Sergio Aguero had looked set to secure all three points for Man City until Boro's summer signing netted in the final moments
Marten De Roon's last-gasp strike stole Middlesbrough a point at the Etihad Stadium.
George Friend crossed from the left and De Roon stole in unmarked at the back post to power a header through Claudio Bravo's hands.
Sergio Aguero had scored his 150th goal for Manchester City to help the Blues break the deadlock and appeared set to secure them a three-point lead atop the Premier League.
Aguero converted Kevin de Bruyne's sublime ball to break Middlesbrough's stubborn resistance on 43 minutes and continue his hot steak.
Despite going six games without a goal, the Argentina hitman has netted 14 times in his 15 matches this season.
City might have had more and Victor Valdes saved from Aguero and David Silva to frustrate City.
Boro had chances, despite City's dominating possession and territory, and Claudio Bravo made a great stop to deny Adam Forshaw and tipped a long-range effort from former Blues striker Alvaro Negredo over his bar.
But De Roon's first Boro goal sent the away fans wild and nicked a draw for Aitor Karanka's men.
But what did we learn? David Anderson was there....
1) Sergio Aguero should be undroppable
Pep Guardiola's gamble in sacrificing Aguero in the Nou Camp to try and win the midfield battle against Barcelona backfired.
Aguero has responded with three goals since to take his City tally to 150 in just 223 games.
Great strikers average a goal every two games, but the Argentinian hitman's is even better and he is hitting two goals every three matches.
The South American has 14 in his 15 games this season, despite a barren run of six games without a goal.
2) Adama Traore is a rough diamond
Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka handed Traore only his third Premier League start against City after intensively schooling him in the demands of the Premier League.
Traore was at Barcelona's fabled youth academy when Pep Guardiola was in charge of the Nou Camp and has raw talent.
The pacy wideman created a chance for Adam Forshaw and could develop into a player if he works hard and listens to Karanka.
3) Kevin de Bruyne would get more recognition if he were South American
De Bruyne is in world class form for Manchester City and he continued to shine with a perfect pass for Aguero's goal.
He was also excellent against Barcelona and surely would get more acclaim if he were a swarthy-skinned Latino rather than a ginger-haired kid from Belgium.
On this form, he is one of the world's best players and hopefully he will get the plaudits his talent deserves.
4) Vincent Kompany is no longer an automatic choice
Guardiola claimed yesterday that Kompany was ready to play 90 minutes after lasting only one half of last week's Manchester derby.
But he started with the City skipper on the bench as he went with Aleksandar Kolarov at centre-half instead of Nicolas Otamendi.
It is going to be hard for Kompany to become a regular again for City.
Yaya Toure is even further away from Guardiola's matchday squad and the Ivorian was excluded, despite yesterday's apology, and may have played his last game for the Blues.
5) Alvaro Negredo is fondly remembered by City fans
Negredo bagged 23 goals in his one season with City in 2013-14, helping them win a Premier League and Capital One Cup double. He admits he regrets his decision to quit the Etihad instead of staying and battling for his place, but City fans still appreciate his achievements for the club.
They chanted his nickname "beast, beast" when he stopped in front of them after seeing an attempted lob from an offside position drift wide.
Another reunion - Victor Valdes meeting former boss Guardiola - didn't go so well when he was injured in a clash with Jesus Navas.
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